MR ORMOND, M.H.R., AT WAIPAWA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2231, 22 April 1881, Page 4

MR ORMOND, M.H.R., AT WAIPAWA.

[press association telegram. } WAIPAWA, April 21. Mr Ormond addressed a meeting of his constituents in the Town Hall, this evening-. There was a moderate attendance. Mr Harding in the chair. Mr Ormond commenced his speech by saying that ho had postponed meeting his constituents earlier because he expected that the Premier, or some other Minister, would have given some indication of their future policy. However, the only .speech made was that by Major Atkinson, which woe mainly confined to the defence of the property tax. Of the future policy of the Government he gave little indication, several unimportant Bills being all thnt were named as likely to bo introduced in the coming session, his idea apparently being that Parliament should devote the chief part of its time to putting the finances of the colony on n sound basis. Referring to last session, Mr Ormond said that it was a session in which a vast number of Bills were introduced, but little practical work done. This was accountable for in several ways. Mr Hall was capable of a large amount of work : he might be said to be composed of blue books and statistics, and expected every one to exhibit the same capacity for work. This caused a flood of Bills, most of which could not possibly pass. There were several measures of a non-political character, such as the Fencing Bill and Impounding Bill, affecting largo interests and of greatest importance, but they could not be passed, because a Bill which would suit Canterbury would not suit Auckland or the requirements of Hawke's Bay bush settlements. This caused a groat difference of opinion, leading to lengthy discussions. However Parliament might devote itself to these subjects, it could not deal with them so well as the old Provincial Councils, where each community, knowing its peculiar requirements, framed measures suited to those requirements. There was another reason for the waste of time in Parliament. All local measures, however unimimportant, had to pass through Parliament. An Alteration in the constitution of a domain board in Otago, for instance, would require a special Act of Parliament, and the Otago members would fight for a whole evening over the Bill, more important questions going to the wall. Thus wo had grown into the fashion of relegating to Royal Commissions work properly belonging to Parliament. The convenience of this was strikingly shown last session. The Ministry of the day naturally selected public men to net on these Commissions, and thus it came about that after having seats in the House they became in a similar position to Ministers replying to questions which should properly bo put to Ministers. If this practice of relegating everything to Commissions wore continued, it would strike a blow at constitutional government. Three of these Commissions reported last session the West Coast, Railway, and Civil Service. He had no wish to under-value the work done by thorn. Ho admitted that good resulted, though ho did not agree everything they recommended, but all of them, especially the Railway Commission, had practically assumed functions which should bo performed by Ministers. Referring to the Judicature Commission, he said it was one which was much needed. The Commissioners had not reported yet, but something of their probable recommendations hod leaked out through the proas of the colony. They would all agree with him in thinking that it was a question of the utmost public importance. Ho understood thnt the Commission was composed of some of the leading lawyers. Judges, and one or two laymen. The Government did a great public service in appointing the Commission, the object of their appointment being to enquire into the manner in which the business of the higher Courts was conducted, and make such recommendations as would obtain a simxdiflcation of procedure and get rid of technicalities. His opinion was that nothing required reform more than the practice of the Courts. Plaintiffs had often a great deal of right, but often absolutely failed to get justice through some technicality in form. That state of things was a great grievance to the country, and if tho Commission helped to simplify tho Courts it would confer a great benefit. He would almost, go the length of thinking thnt with tho present forms of Court justice was difficult to get, especially when people had got insufficient money to obtain it. He looked with great hope to tho results of tho Commission, The subject was first drawn attention to by tho legal profession, through Mr Travers, he believed, criticising in a rather free manner one of hla brethren, and professing not to bo to blame for tho present state of things, which was tho fault of the system. Ho did not know how it became public, a« the report had not been published; but bo had scon it stated that they wore to bo indebted to the legal profession lor any likely changes, and that the Judges opposed them. This was to be regretted, as tho Junges should lead tho way in reform. Ho hoped that when tho report camo it would bo found net to be so. Attention should also bo given to the 1 /w-?r Courts, so as to allow justice to bo more readily obtained. Thoro was just as much ground for complaint there as in tho higher Courts. They should bo ablo to obtain direct justice there without the possibility of a plaintiff failing through a technicality or legal point. He could not take up a newspaper without reading of some cose in the Magistrate's Court being so dismissed. Those things should not be allowed. This question was well worthy tho attention of every representative. Tho speaker next referred to some of the events of last session. One question prominently brought forward was charitable aid and tho maintenance of hospitals. Major Atkinson hud also indicated tho subject as one which would bo legislated upon next session. It was ono of groat importance. The Government proposal was to raise money by vote, and in tho end, though not just at flr-*t, the ratepayers would hnvo tho control of tho fuuds. Many members urged that it would bo a groat reproach to a young colony to impose a p or rate. We could not shut our eyes to ths fact that there were poor and sick , araongsc as who mast bo provided for. He did not think that these should ho left to be relieved by charity. They hud a right to demand relief, and sentimental feelings about a poor law Should be put on ono side. Ho therefore thoroughly agreed with tho Government. Mr Stevens introduced a Bill, which received partial support from the Government, proposing to set apart reserves of waste lauds to supplement the rates, and ho thought this proposal was worthy of consideration, Tho next point touched on was tho financial measures of tho Government. It was to him a matter of tho greatest possible regret that ho felt compelled to differ from those who wore his

political and private friends ; bnt he felt compelled to state those differences, some of which still existed. The Treasurer brought down an amendment of the Property Tax Act, with an oxplnnati n that he and his colleagues believed that the tax would be unpopular. The speaker believed so too. and was opposed to it from the first. Major Atkinson propose i a certain exemption, which he thought would assist to make the tax popular. He proposed to exempt personal property, which meant furniture, boolcs, and other things specified. It was soon seen that it would not do, and that the exemptions would bo in favour of the wealthy classes. Ho did not know if the Government wiiiiiciently considered the measure. Exemptions of different kinds wore proposed from all sides of the House to keep taxation from those whom each member represented, which, if complied with,would have robbed the Bill of its principal features, ana left it without any inside. Though the Bill was one of policy it was put off from day to day, ana nothing was done to it till near the end. of toe session, when some technical amendment was effected. Ho considered the beer tax a very fair tax. He supported threepence because it was not so likely to affect the consumer as a sixpenny tax. He briefly referred to some of the Bills giving small additions to the rovenne. The most important policy Bill brought down by the Government was the Bocal Public Works Bill. In the earl> part of the session the subsidies local bodies wore discontinued, and this Bill was introduced to meet the requirements of the outlying districts. The subsidies and the 20 per cent, of the land fund wore taken away, and the Bill proposed to ™ a ke provision instead thereof. It proposed in the first place to double the rating power of local bodies, aud instead of a shilling they were to be allowed to levies in the £ in future. Their borrowing powers wore also altered, and bodies were allowed to borrow money at any rate of interest they could get it at. The assistance that Government proposed to give was that Crown lands should be alio wed to bo rated, but they were to bo rated at a fixed sum but not in the proportion borne by settlers lands. It was also proposed to allow bodies to tax Native lands, with this peculiarity, hat although, lands wore to be taxed, the money was to come out of the revenue which the settlers provided. It was held that the Natives were not in a position to have taxation enforced npon them. They were to be taxed, however, where they held lands in boroughs, but the produce of that would be infinitesimal, as tho Natives held very little in boroughs. In addition to these provisions, the Government scheme provided that out of the proceeds of land sales a sum not to exceed £150,000 was to be set aside and made a fund, out of which tho rates on Crown and Maori lands were to be paid. It was also proposed to establish a fund by loans, out of which local bodies could borrow money for bridges or roads, repaying the same in payments extending over a number of years. When the Bill was brought down he expressed dissent from its principal features. He disagreed with the mode proposed of paying the taxes imposed on Native lands. The £150,000 mentioned to be got from wist' lands, ho would remark, was to be administered by a Board in Wellington under certain regulations. The measure was not received with favor by any Iportion of the House, and although one of the principal measures of the Government, if not the main one, the Bill never came on for actual consideration. When the Government found that the provision they had proposed was not satisfactory the Bill was practically dropped, bnt not till the Government found out that the opinion of their own supporters was against it. It was tho largest financial measure that tho Government brought down. It was lost sight of, and no provision has as yet been made for tho future of local bodies. The only other important point about tho financial proposals of the Government was the economy in public expend! ture. The estimates submitted were, be thought, extravngaut and excessive, and he did not hesitato to say so. He found that the great bulk of the party would not take any prominent part in a remonstrance with the Government, as Sir G. Grey had tabled a motion condemning their financial proposals,amounting to a want of confidence motion, which if passed would have caused Sir G. Grey to he sent for by the Governor. Bat ho felt it his duty to insist upon greater redactions, and in this he was supported by Mr Saunders and Mr Reader Wood. Ministers proposed to effect a saving of £50,000. Ho told them they could easily save another £300,001. For this he was severely condemned by the Premier, Mr Geo Mcßoan and others, ’./ho declared it was impossible. Justification for his belief was found in Major Atkinson's recent speech, when he stated that a saving of £252 000 had been effected. He (Mr Ormond) believed it was possible to make still further reductions by combining offices iu such towns as Napier, leaving the efficiency of tho service unimpaired. The Government had recently sent down Messrs Seed and Batkin to report on this matter, but he did not expect much from two heads of departments, who were not the most likely men to recommend sweeping reforms. Booking back, he did not in any way regret tho course he had taken in conjunction with Messrs Saunders and Woo I. He disagreed with the indiscriminate reduction of 1“ per cent., which seemed to him calculated to get rid of tho best men, leaving the worst in office. He next spoke of the Native policy of Mr Bryce, with some part of which he agreed and the other part ho disagreed. He disagreed with the Bill proposing to stop all sales of Native land except through the Waste Band Boards, as he believed it would have put a stop to settlement. His view was that the greatest possible facilities should be given for the acquirement by Europeans of Native lands, so that they might be trough'.into cultivation and made to bear their share of taxation, ns well as increasing the productive power of the colony. At present some 11.000,000 acres In the North Island were absolutely idle, and contributed nothing to the burdens of the country. Then he disagreed with the action of Mr Bryce in his apparent wholesale abandonment of liens on Government land. When ho (Mr Ormond) fora time, during the illness of Sir Donald Mcßoan, bad the control of the Band Purchase Department, he found large areas on which Government advances had been made. These ho and his colleagues carefully divided into three classes. The first was of lands of which the greater part of this purchase money had been paid, and which were convenient for settlement, and those they proposed to stick to. Tho second consisted of lands in practicable places, which wore left for future dealing with. Tho third were lands for which a small part of the purchase money had been paid, or were unsuitable for settlement. He thought that Mr Bryce should have followed a similar plan, instead of throwing over largo areas fairly belonging to the people. But he was thoroughly at one with Ministers in their dealings with the West Coast question up to a certain point. That point was when a letter was sent to Te Whiti by the advice of Ministers, asking the prophet to meet the Governor. He thought that unwise and impolitic. It was additionally unfortunate that the letter should have been sent to him by an officer of the Imperial Army. He (Mr Ormond) knew that this had created in the mind of the Maoris a belief that there was a power behind, and one more powerful than the representative Government of the colony. After referring to the result of the embassy in somewhat sarcastic terms, Mr Ormond went on to deal with Mr Bryce's proposal to take a force to arrest Hiroki and Te Whiti, if tho latter had sheltered Mcßean’s murderer. He said he would have heartily supported the proposal, which was a fitting conclusion to previous action on the West Coast, had not tho Governor’s letter to Te Whiti been previously sent. He did not believe that there would have been any risk of war, and be claimed to know something of the matter. It would have taught To Whiti and his deluded followers that the law was more powerful than he was, and put an end to the fanaticism he inspired. But after the Governor had treated the prophet as an almost separate power, and sent an officer armed with almost the authority of an ambassador, it would not do to resort at once to force. It would have been equal to a breach of faith on the part of the colony. He then proceeded to speak of the future of the colony and the proposed legislation. He said that judging from Major Atkinson's speech, tho next session was to be a very brief one, and Parliament would ba confined to dealing with the redistribution of seats, charitable aid, and the licensing question, if Ministers had their own way. Then there was to be a period of political rest, a phrase which Major Atkinson had once used before. These matters all required dealing with, but there were also others of even more importance than they. He agreed that the redistribution of seats was necessary, though ho thought too rigid an adherence to a population basis would give undue power to town populations. Other things than mere population should be taken in account, and he had reason to believe that the Bill which Ministers would propose would take cognizance of those other matters. He did not think Ministers would be strong enough to carry their Bill. They wore not strong enough to carry their policy Bills last session, and ho did not think they would be stronger this session. He anticipated that tho Bill would have to be referred to a committee chosen from the Honse, and in that way the difficulty might ho got over. Coming to taxation, he strongly condemned tho property tax as calculated to press hardly upon improving settlers, and to drive capital from the colony. Major Atkinson's speech was chiefly a labored defence of the property tax. At Now Plymouth he argued that the tax did not press on improvements, inasmuch as if a man had £IOO in the Bank ho was taxed on that, bnt only on £BO if ho put it int»> improvements. He did not understand how this came about, unless people in Taranaki were in tbo habit of spending £IOO on £BO worth of improvements. Major Atkinson must have had great faith in the simplicity of the audience he was addressing to make such a statement. Sir G. Grey bad never heard tho last of calling Mr Hall's constituents country bumpkins. He (Mr Ormond) would not risk a similar cry, but would content himself with saying that Taranaki audiences must be very simple indeed if they did not see through such statements. Major Atkinson knew very well that money spent on improvements did no*, as a rule, come from the Bank. It was generally capital brought into the country for the distinct and special purpose of improvement. At the present time there was an unprecedented over abundance of capital seeking investment. This was a bad sign, as it showed that a serious check had been given to improvements. For years he had argued that an income tax was the fairest possible form of direct taxation. There were only two arguments adduced against an income tax. The first was that it would not produce enough. The only method of estimating what the tax would produce was through the officers of the Colonial Treasurer's Department. Their estimate of the result of the property tax had been wonderfully close. Colonel Whitmore and Mr Ballance, when in power, caused estimates to bo prepared for an income tax, which might he presumed to bo equally correct. Colonel Whitmore told him that the estimate showed that a larger amount than that realised by tho property tax could bo got with an income tax. It was not so oppressive as tho property tax, and this was duo to the income tax catching men not toadied by the property tax. The other argument was that those who possessed an income only contributed their share to the taxation through tho Customs. Did not those whose incomes were derived from ])rox>orty j>ay equally through the Customs ? The only difference was that the latter had to pay equally through tho Customs and had to pay direct taxes in addition. He supposed that those who used this argument must really think there was something iu it, but ho never could see any force in it. Recently the property tax had been lengthily discussed in the local papers,and the arguments of tho supporters of the property tax would have set him against it if he had before believed iu it. Many of those who supported an income tax also advocated a land tax in addition. He did not agree with this, but ho would sooner see an income tax and a property tax exempting improvements than the present property tax, as ho believed it would be better for the colony. Band, ho agreed, should bear a special burden, but he thought that in the near future it would have to bear a great part of the cost of the education system, and all the burden of local works, on tho withdrawal of subsidies. Next ho came to deal with the railways. Bast session ho made a x>roposal with regard to the railways which had been much misrepresented. It was said that ho advocated the sale of tho railways. What ho said was, that if it were necessary to impose another property tax, as would have been the case if a quarter of a million | of reduction in tbo expenditure liad not been made.

it might perhaps bo better to sell the railways, or largo tracts of purely pastoral lands. Ho never advocated it; ho only said it might be necessary to consider whether something iu that way might not be wise. Ho oven went so far as to carefully sny that he had not made up h:*s own mind on tho prol»osal, though he had devoted much thought to it. do did not think the railways were being worked to the host advantage of tho colony. One could not pick up a Sou'hdru paper without seeing that *■ tho greatest possible disc nitout existed, and a large amount of traffic was being diverted from the railways, especially for short distances. There was a disinclination to grant any facilities to tho public, and this was well shown «>n the matter of a siding. For instance Mr Firth, of Ormoudville, had asked him to get a siding there.: Ashe (Mr Fir+h) bad been nnsucsriccossful, this was backed by a petition from Ormondvillo settlers. Ho interviewed Mr Oliver, and finally overcame red-tapeism ; the siding was erected, and now afforded more timber traffic than all the rest of the lino put together. This was not the way to make the railways a commercialsuccess. Coming to construction, he said that he was not satisfied with stopping absolutely all work on main lines, as was now practically the case. Bines, especially in the North Island, which led to nowhere, must be continued to make them pay. The Hawke’s Bay line, for instance, was cut to Tahoraite, thirteen miles further. The stock necessary to work the extension, as well as the rails, were here, but all work was suspended, and only formation was required to bo done. If this section were completed, it would take the most extensive and best quality totara forest in Now Zealand, worth more than all the other totara forests in the colony combined, and would give a very largo traffic. Ho complained that the promises given to him about the employment of bush settlers on tho extension of the lines had not been fulfilled. He obtained a promise that instead of tho work being offered to the unemployed, as in the South Island, contracts should bo let to small parties of resident settlers, who could have worked part of their time in improving their selections, and the remainder on the line. But nothing of this sort had been done, and tho settlors were in a state of great poverty. Ho agreed that it would nor. do for the colony to borrow more money to continue these lines, but he thought that English capitalists might be induced to do so if favorable conditions were offered. They might lease their present lines under proper conditions as to the maximum rates to bo charged, and every care being taken to prevent tho interests of the colony being injured. If there were any difficulty as to the profits, it might perhaps bo got over by the colony guaranteeing a maximum dividend for a fixed period of years, as provided for in other cases under the District Railways Bill; or grants of land along tho lino might be made, under conditions providing for the prompt settlement of such land. He had thought much about the question, and throw out these suggestions as possible solutions of a grave difficulty. The development of tho country could never be allowed to stand still. We should make every endeavor to induce capital to come to the colony, so that another fillip might be given to our onward progress, and, he believed, that if reasonable offers were made English capitalists might be induced to complete tho unfinished lines of the North Island, the line to connect tho east and west coasts of the South Island, the Wellington West-Coast line and the Napier-Well ngton Hue, as well as tho Otago Central Railway, and others which might give a reasonable promise of paying. He then spoke of making provision for local works and the settlement of tho country. The subsidies and twenty per cent, of the laud fund upon which local bodies had so much depended had been taken away and loft them very little. The Bill to which he hud referred had not become law, nor was it likely to, and thus absolutely no provision was made for local bodies. The two forms of local bodies —Counties and Road Boards—were engaged in exactly tho same work, their functions being little else than road making and assisting charitable aid. Their duties ceased with the subsidies. They had barely enough to subsist on with the rates they could raise. Tho country would soon find that they eould not afford to waste governing power by having two bodies to do the same work. He believed that Road Boards would eventually have charge of the roads. Major Atkinson proposed to distribute funds to the local bodies by an official Board at Wellington, bub that would not be satisfactory, as the Board could not have sufficient knowledge of local wants. Ho bad helped to work the abolition of provinces, and still thought that to a certain extent the extravagance and grab-all policy of some provinces justified it. But he now thought that in working abolition they made a great mistake. They ought to have amended the then existing system so as to make it more useful instead of abolishing it. He believed they would have to recur to a similar system, bnt in a modified form. There were many subjects which could be well handed over to local Boards of Works. To such Boards might be entrusted the waste lands administration, and the charge of charitable aid. Tho settlement of the country would also have to be carried out under local authority. Ho believed this matter would soon become one of tho leading questions in the colony. It was daily more and more enforcing itself on the attention of the people. It was a matter of great grief aud disappointment to him to find himslf differing with the Government on many important points. He believed that tho question of the railways and local government, and the establishment of a Board of Works, would bo forced on the attention of the Government. He believed the present Government to be men of the highest character and actuated by patriotic motives throughout, and working for the interests of the colony. He diaax>proved of the tone of a section of the Press, who finding themselves at variance with tho Government attributed te them motives for whatever they did. He did not believe they had or would be guilty of, and would not lend themselves to, any act of impropriety. Tho time had not come when Major Atkinson oonld get his period of political rest, and he would not get it till the important matters he had spoken of were dealt with. Parliament expired in February, and it met about June. As the House was at present constituted, the Government were not able to pass any large measures last session, nor would they be able to do so next session. The property tax had been introduced without the people being able to express an opinion. The House should next session entirely confine itself to passing the Redisti ibntion of Representation Bill and granting the necessary supplies. .It should then dissolve and let the people express their opinions. He should advocate that course, as the country had a right to express its opinion. Mr Ormond finished amid continued applause. In reply to questions, Mr Ormond said he could not explain why the Hawke's Bay Education Board had not obtained its fair share of the grant. He was sorry it had not. He thought that the difficulty of too high a price being put on waste lands would be very well met if his proposal that the waste lands should he handed over to the Bocal Board of Works was adopted. In such Board they would have a guarantee that the feeling of the people was being carried out. He would favor the forcing of Natives to pay rates on their land where possible. In some cases they c uld not do so, but where Maoris settled and lived with Europeans they should be made to do so. Mr Ben Johnson moved a vote of confidence for Mr Ormond’s services.

The motion was seconded by Mr Stanley, aud carried.